Spring motor



P. S. LARSON.

SPRING MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.4. 1921.

Patented Feb. 28,1922.

same.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rn'rm s. reason, or 3 1 11, t isconsin.

srmenoroa Application tiled January- 4, 1921. Serial K0 484355.

This invention relates broadly to an improved spring motor, but it has more particular reference to a deviceof this class suchv as is used in clocks.

' Devices of the above class usually include r a frame for supporting the train'ofgears and the other mechanism, and this frame generally includes detachably connected spaced plates between which the abovegears and other mechanism is, placed. As far as Ia n aware, it is' the general practice, when replacing themain s ring, to disassemble the frame. This Inet 0d of repairing consumesmuch time and labor and is not only troublesome but 'is necessarily expensive ,to all concerned;

In view of the above circumstances, I contemplate employing a novel mechanism supporting frame having a hole formed in one of theplates through which the main spring may be inserted and removed without disturbing any o f'the parts of the adjacent mechanism or disassembling said frame-as is ordinarily done." Tofi'ns'ure efi'ective 'results, I detachably connectone end of the spring to the shaft which it is intended to rotate and the other end of the spring, I

detachably connect with an anchor, the latter,-by preference ,being in theform of a casing for the spring and being removed, as

ga'funit withsaid sprin through-the afforep r r or housing for the spr ng.- The end of the said opening.

Anotherand important feature of-the-invention is to'employ with the above named casing, a' novel retaining member therefor whichserves-to prevent rotation of the easing, serves to prevent outward bulging of the inner convolutionsofthe spring, and constitutes abearing for one end of thershaft which the spring rotates.

' The aboveandother advantagesand features' of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following descripao'n;

In the. accompanying drawings forming a part -of-this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts-throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a mechanism supporting frame constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the spring-and its casing in operative position. a

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane of-the line 22 of Fig. 1. Figure3 is a detail view of the spring casing.

Sp c fica io .Jet ed-Pawn. Patented Feb. 28, 1922. v

Figure 4 is a central section taken through i the casing on the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of the retainer for the casing.

Figure 6 is a section taken through the,

retainer-on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

In carrying out the invention, I contemplate employ ng a supporting frame 1 such as is used to support the train of gears and Othermechanism' for operatinga clock, this frame, as is usual, including the detachably connected vertically disposed spaced sup- Portingxplates 2 and 3 respectively. 'In accordance with my ideas, the plate 3 is formed adjacent its lower edge with one or more re'lativel large openings 4, and it is through one oft ese openings that the main spring -5 is inserted and removed. I I may stateat this point that one opening is for the'main spring which'actuates the train of gears while the other opening is intended to permit removal and insertion of a similar spring which serves to operate the alarm, this last opening being used when the frame is used with an alarm-clock. As beforeiintimated, the spring5 is designed to rotate the shaft 6 and 'ithas oneof its ends detachably connected with a lug or the like 7 :on .the shaft, its other end being connected 'toan anchor 8, preferably in the'form of a casing opening 4 as avunit, to facilitate repairing,

I connect it with the plate 3 in such .a way that it may be quickly detached from .the

latter foraccomplishing the above end. To this end, the casing, wh ch is preferably cupshaped, is equipped at its open end withlaterally disposed stop flangesll which "bear against the plate 3 in the manner shown, It is to be noted that the free ends of the stop"- flanges are spaced from one another to pro-" vide a pair ofdiametrically-opposite notches 12 for reception of the retainer barl3 which is bolted or otherwise secured to the plate 3. As before indicated, the retainer bar 13 serves to preventpossible rotationyiof the casing, serves also to prevent possiblebulg Ming orfdisplacement of the. inner. convoluof to clear the lug 7 when removing the,

through the opening 4.. a

: tions of the spring and, as itis equipped at i is center w tha reinforcediopening 14:, 1t t constitutes a bearing for theadjacent end of the shaft 6Q At-this point, I mayi'mention that the closed end of thecasing-ES is formed with a comparatively large opening 1 15 for passage of the shaft, this opening being large enough to permit theedge therespring and casing off of the shaft and With a mechanlsmsupporting frame of the kind herein shown and described,1t will be seen-that in case the main springiis removin the casin Sand-Is rifn .throu h E h D and'spring can beso removedf it will be necessary to disconnect, the inner end'of the,

spring'from the anchoring lug? the opening,

1 before stated, to permit the edge ;thereof;

15 in the casing being suflicientjly large, as

to clear this lug whenl removingwthecasing.

Emphasis isto be laid onthe fact that with such a construction, the necessaryrepairs may be made with the;;smallest possible amountof labor;withoutinterfering with any of the adjacent parts of -the trainof gears or mechanism or withoutnecessitatinge disassembling of ;the frame 1 as is ordinari'ly done; Consequently, the small amount a of labor required and time "savedjwill reduce;

" the expensexattachedto the-repairing ope'r-Q -1fation"to l'a minimums Not only can -the spring and casing be easilyj-remjc ved,fbut

ftice, I contemplatemanufacturing and selling the spring andits casing as aru'nit. so

that "no possible trouble will be experienced inremoving the spring-from or replacing it 1n the casing. I W-lSll' it to be understoodhowever that the foregoing statement is-not i limiting.

A careful consideration of-the foregoingdescription taken inconnection with the accompanylng drawingsis thought to be sufii cientto enable person's skilled in the art to which the invention'relatesfto obtain a clear understanding of-th'e'same. f Therefore, a

more lengthy and detailed description is thought unnecessary.

prising a mechanism supporting frame ineluding a- .plate 7 having "an .openlng therein, .a shat'tv supported by saidframe and} having one or its ends extending through prisingg a mechanism supportingjrame includingspaced plates, one of which isipro- While I have shown and described the in vention as be'ing particularly adapted for use in connection with clocks, I wish it "to b eiinderstood that it may be equally well used with various types of spring motors.

Furthermore, while I have shown apariticu- Lar construction and arrangement of parts for accomplishing the results hereinbefore set forth, I wish it to be understood that various minor changes inthe shape, size and arrangement ,ofparts may be resorted to I claim:

within the scope of the subjoinedfclaixnslf 1. A spring :motor for useinclocksgcomsaid ,ope i ing, a spring having one end .detachably connected to. said shaft, means to, which the otherendbf thespring isconnected, said v rn eansgan-d spring being jinsertible and removable through the. aforesaid opening as a .unit,;and other means, forretainingfsaid first named-means in operative position, said ,rretaining means including a bearing for that endwof .the: shaft extending through said pe i g-i," 2'. Afspringmotor foruse in clocks :com-

vided withan opening, a shaft one of its ,enjds supported by one of saiclplates,

its opposite en'd extending throughthe "opening in said other plate, a spring for i mparting rotation to theshaft, having one of its lends "detachably 1 connected with, the latter,

'aflcasing in which said spring is arrangech, the opposite end of the latter being detachdisassembling the H aforesaid" frame,- 1 and means extending'across; the open end of the casing and detachably' connected. with the frame for retaining saidcasing in position, a said I means including a' bearing for the. ad: jacent end of the aforesaid shaft. a they can be ust as eas ly replaced: 1 In prac-i 1 eplat'e and its opposite end extendingthrough 1 the openingin the first mu led plate, a cupshaped casing extending through said opening and betweensaidplates, having an o n ing in its bottom throughtwhiclrthe ,s iaft extendsandbeing provided with lateral stop fiangesbearingfagainst the outer face of the Zad acent-pIate, the ends of saidufiangess'being spaced apart at diametrically opposite points; andja bar extending across the open end of said casing and arranged between the free ends of said flanges, being detachably secured to the adjacent plate of the supporting frame and being provided at its center with a bearing for the adjacent end of the aforesaid shaft, and a spring having its inner end detachably connected with said shaft and its opposite end detachably connected with said casing, being removable with the laitter as a unit through the opening in said p ate. 7

4:. In combination, a clock mechanism supporting frame including a plate having an opening, a shaft, a spring for rotating the latter having one of its ends connected thereto, a cup-shaped casing for the spring having an opening in its closed end for passage of said shaft, and equipped with stop flanges at open end bearing against the outer face of the aforesaid plate, and a retaining bar for the casing, extending across the open end of the latter and having its ends connected with said plate, being formed at its center with a bearing in which the adjacent end of said shaft is journalled. I

5. In combination, a clock mechanism supporting frame including a vertical plate having an opening therein a shaft supported by said frame and having one of its ends extending through said opening, an anchoring lug on the shaft adjacent the last mentioned end, a cup-shaped casing extending through said opening and into the frame, having a central hole formed in its closed end through which said shaft passes, said hole being sufliciently large to clear the aforesaid lug when removing or inserting the casing through said opening, said casing being equipped at its outer open end with stop flanges abutting the outer face of said plate, the ends of said flanges being spaced from each other to provide a pair of diametrically opposite notches, and a retaining bar for the casing extending through said notches and having its ends detachably connected to the aforesaid plate, serving to prevent rotation of said casing, said bar being provided at its center with a bearing in which the adjacent end of said shaft is journalled, and a spring in said casing having one of its ends detachably connected to the aforesaid anchoring lug, its other end being detachably connected with said casing.

6. A spring motor for use in clocks comprising a mechanism supporting frame including a plate having an opening therein, a shaft supported in said frame and having one end extending through said opening, a

spring having one end detachably connected to said shaft for imparting rotation to the latter, a casing for the spring provided with a projection constituting an anchor for the opposite end of said spring, said casing and spring being insertible and removable through the aforesaid opening in the plate as a unit, and means for retaining said casing and spring in operative position, said means including a bearing for the adjacent end of said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PETER S. LARSON. 

